Los Molinos del Río Aguas

Los Molinos del Río Aguas is an ancient little Andalusian village with a long historical background, situated in a green oasis in the middle of a Natural Park. In our GUIDED TOURS we high-light the richness of our unique ecosystem which is home to a variety of endemic species of fauna and flora. All the houses in the village are self-sustaining with river water and solar power as we live free from any water or power supply provided by the government. There are about 30 people living here, not counting the many volunteers and visitors passing through throughout the year. Los Molinos on Google Maps

The Karst en Yesos de Sorbas is a Natural Park located in the southeast of Andalusia (Spain) and one of the world’s biggest gypsum karsts with over 1,500 caves offering a spectacular and diverse world of crystal formations: stalactites, stalagmites, columns and corals. The Karst has become one of the jewels of the geological world due to its educational value and scientific interest, a true and green oasis that is now threatened by the risk of the over-exploitation of water caused by the macro plantations of olive trees in superintensive cultivation. Over the last four years we have brought this case of human and environmental abuse to the level of international awareness. Please find out more on our website: rioaguas.org

Almería is the province with the least rainfall in the whole of Europe and, statistically, 300 days of sunshine per year. Various protected areas can be found here and we are undoubtedly privileged to behold the sea, the alpine peaks, Mediterranean forests of the mountain range, and the only desert on this continent in one and the same province. The flora and fauna are some of the most abundant and diverse to be found in the Old Continent, and for living creatures, this land of contrasts offers a multitude of different habitats. Due to the circumstances of its geographic situation, climate, proximity to the African continent and its extreme aridity, the province of Almería is one of the wealthiest places of endemisms found per unit area in the whole of Europe.

La Pita Escuela

The PITA-ESCUELA House has been completely restored within the last 3 years with the aim to transform it into an example of a self-sustainable house with all kinds of modern comfort.

It is provided with 220V solar energy current, a giant bathroom with hot water and a washing machine, intelligent heating system, ecological futon mattresses, swimming pool with river water, broadband Internet and a ‘Music-Lounge’, which includes a recording studio and a collection of more than 60 musical instruments.

The house is where some of our activities take place and where we expone a great number of our products and colections.

The Pita-Escuela House is the heart of our project, which incorporates an Agave Museum situated in the middle of Los Molinos.

As well as informative photographic and film material and a whole archive of scientific studies, reports and articles related to the agave, musical instruments, craft articles, products from agave fibres and much more are exhibited in the Museum.

It’s the perfect spot for you to get inspired and develop your own beautiful creations.!

Our beloved workshop-space, in the garden next to the PITA-ESCUELA House, is our place of creation.

It is a flat-packing workshop which can be moved to another place any time, but actually, there is no reason to do so.

Entertained by bird sounds, surrounded by nice trees and plants and just a few steps away from our swimming pool filled with river water, we have the perfect working conditions to get inspired and develop our beautiful creations.

The summer camp organized by GREENPEACE in July 2011 was the start of our own little agave plantation located down in the valley next to the river.

The plantation functioned as a nursery to ensure the growth of future generations, especially the A.americana subspecies, as well as having been a perfect spot for educational and research activities.

Unfortunately, this plantation has been completely disappearing because of the aggressive attacks of the plague of the Picudo Negro, in 2007 detected for the first time in Spain. At the moment the Picudo continues attacking all along the Mediterranean coast and as there is no economical use for Agave in this country and due to the fact that it is included in the National Catalog of invasive exotic species, there is nobody that will take measures to regulate this plague and to save the Mediterranean Agaves.

La Casa de la Realidad

The Casa de la Realidad up the hill provides the Pita-Escuela House with solar energy and water from the river, our lifeline so to speak. With the help of many friends from different countries, the Englishman David Dene transformed this former ruin with 25 years of constant work into a self-sustainable house. With 3,5 KW of solar energy including a 5 KW inverter the house is now totally adapted to the needs of the 21st century.

National Geographic made a report about the Casa de la Realidad as a perfect example for low environmental impact and a high living standard at the time. The house can store up to 15,000 liters of water . The water is pumped through a ram pump from the ancient, Roman water supply system, and can transport 5 liters per minute, 24 hours a day.

Casa El Mirador

The Casa El Mirador, an associated neighbor project found just two steps away from the Pita-School, collaborates with us as a guest-house where we can accomodate up to 15 people.

The house is provided with 230V solar energy current as well, a cinema room, a nice ecologic garden and a broadband Internet connection. The 140m2 roof terrace offers one of the greatest views over the valley!